Cheryl Lynn (Lummerding) Archer

It is with sad hearts we announce the passing of Cheryl Archer. Cherie was born on a beautiful early fall day on October 12, 1963, in Gimli, Manitoba. Shortly after she was born, her family moved to Vancouver Island where she spent most of her formative years. The North Island was a great place to grow up. Cherie had the freedom to roam and explore and learn from the natural environment and it had a profound influence on the person she became. She loved nothing better than to wander the beach, turning over stones to see what kind of crawly things were under them. The forest was her playground, and she gleefully explored every nook and cranny. The family moved to Prince George for a brief time, and then in 1978 her father took an overseas job and they moved to Tehran, Iran. The experience of living internationally was extraordinary and taught her to see things from a different perspective. It was a lesson in tolerance and how to view people and life with an open mind. Having mixed these ingredients together, this is who Cherie became, a free spirit who was full of life and love. A person who laughed well and often, who cried when hurt, and who loved fiercely. A person who wasn’t afraid to try new experiences and would cajole you into jumping off a Tarzan swing before you could yell “kowabunga”. 

After having her daughter in 1986, Cherie moved to the Lower Mainland. It was the two of them against the world and she worked hard to make a life for them. Then, one summer night in 1988, she met the love of her life, Rob. He owned a dairy farm in Rosedale, BC. and being the confident woman she was, she very quickly moved right in and that was that…and Rob didn’t argue one bit. Rob’s three children instantly became part of her world and they blended into a family of six. Cherie and Rob were married in 1990 and a year later they had a daughter together and their family of seven was complete. The farm was an amazing place to live and Cherie thrived on it. Farm life all flowed from the rhythm of the changing seasons. Summers were all about hard work and planting and haying and harvesting…and falling into the pool after a day spent baking in the heat. Winters were all about resting and puttering and fixing and planning for the next year. With five children, there wasn’t time for dilly dallying and Cherie kept busy shuttling kids to and from School, 4-H, church, coaching, bookkeeping, these were all things that were important in Cherie’s world. 

In 1997, the family bought a farm and welding shop and moved to Balcarres, Saskatchewan. No more cows, no haying, just wide-open spaces, and that beautiful blue living sky. Life was simpler there, but there were far more miles being put on the family car now. Rob worked hard in the welding shop and Cherie looked after the books. After a few years Cherie decided to take on a new adventure and opened a bistro in Abernethy. The town was delighted, and this kept her busy for several years. She was also an important part of the cafe at the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site, which was well supported by the surrounding community. Eventually Cherie and Rob became empty nesters and decided a change was in order and they moved to Muenster, Saskatchewan. Always up for a challenge, Cherie learned how to drive a combine and enjoyed the view of the prairies from the front window. Cherie worked for Sobey’s in Humboldt for several years and loved working in a family-owned business with co-workers whom she genuinely cared about and ended up calling many of them good friends.

Their home in Muenster was where her heart was and she truly made it her refuge. The place where she could kick back and just be. Her nest. 

Cherie was a crafter extraordinaire and would while away the hours decorative painting, or making her own greeting cards, or whipping up some incredible project or another. She loved crocheting rag rugs and many of her creations are keeping the feet warm of those she cared about. She loved sports and played slow-pitch for many years. She never met a fastball she couldn’t handle. She loved the Roughriders and diligently planned her life around their schedule during football season so she wouldn’t miss a game. And, of course, there was her cooking. Cherie could take a half stalk of celery, three mushrooms, a can of peas, and some leftover chicken from two nights ago and turn it into something fit for royalty. Well, maybe not royalty, but Rob for sure! Man, could she cook! 

The place that Cherie loved to be more than anywhere else was on the beach in Jamaica, and she had a special love for reggae. As Bob Marley sang in Three Little Birds, don’t worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing, gonna be alright. It’s all right now, Cherie. Free as a bird. Rest in peace. 

Cherie is survived by her husband Rob, her children Jennifer van Egdom (Mark), Chris Archer (Darlene), Lisa Klee (Wade), Shennai Young (Landon), Victoria Badgerow (Edward), her 10 grandchildren, her parents Ron and Louise Lummerding, her sisters Cyndi Taks (Daniel Klassen) and Sandy Ellis (Hugh), and many nieces and nephews.

It was Cherie’s wishes for no funeral service to be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Cheryl’s memory may be made to Humboldt District Hospital Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.